sair-gah-e-duniya ka hasil-e-tamasha kya

sair-gāh-e-duniyā kā hāsil-e-tamāshā kyā

rañg-o-nik.hat-e-gul par apnā thā ijārā kyā

khel hai mohabbat meñ jaan o dil kā saudā kyā

dekhiye dikhātī hai ab ye zindagī kyā kyā

jab bhī jī umaD aayā ro liye ghaḌī bhar ko

āñsuoñ kī bārish se mausamoñ kā rishta kyā

kab sar-e-nazāra thā ham ko bazm-e-ālam kā

yuuñ bhī dekh kar tum ko aur dekhnā thā kyā

dard be-davā apnā baḳht nā-rasā apnā

ai nigāh-e-be-parvā tujh se ham ko shikva kyā

be-savāl āñkhoñ se muñh chhupā rahe ho kyuuñ

merī chashm-e-hairāñ meñ hai koī taqāzā kyā

haal hai na maazī hai vaqt kā tasalsul hai

raat kā añdherā kyā sub.h kā ujālā kyā

jo hai jī meñ kah diije un ke rū-ba-rū 'aḳhtar'

arz-e-hāl kī ḳhātir DhūñDiye bahāna kyā

sair-gah-e-duniya ka hasil-e-tamasha kya

rang-o-nikhat-e-gul par apna tha ijara kya

khel hai mohabbat mein jaan o dil ka sauda kya

dekhiye dikhati hai ab ye zindagi kya kya

jab bhi ji umaD aaya ro liye ghaDi bhar ko

aansuon ki barish se mausamon ka rishta kya

kab sar-e-nazara tha hum ko bazm-e-alam ka

yun bhi dekh kar tum ko aur dekhna tha kya

dard be-dawa apna baKHt na-rasa apna

ai nigah-e-be-parwa tujh se hum ko shikwa kya

be-sawal aankhon se munh chhupa rahe ho kyun

meri chashm-e-hairan mein hai koi taqaza kya

haal hai na mazi hai waqt ka tasalsul hai

raat ka andhera kya subh ka ujala kya

jo hai ji mein kah dije un ke ru-ba-ru 'aKHtar'

arz-e-haal ki KHatir DhunDiye bahana kya